Non-streaking brush



y 1963 B. E. NELSON 3,090,062

NON-STREAKING BRUSH Filed June 10, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BROOKS .E. NELSON AT TORNEYS May 21, 1963 B. E. NELSON NON-STREAKING BRUSH 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 10, 1958 INVENTOR. BROOKS E. NELSON OZ WLM ATTORNEYS y 1963 B. E. NELSON 3,090,062

- NON-STREAKING BRUSH Filed June 10, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

BROOKS E. NELSON AT TORNEYS United States Patent 3&903152 NON-STREAEWG BRUSH Brooks E. Nelson, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, assignor to The Gshorn Manufacturing (Iompany, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed June 19, 1958, Ser. No. 741,182 19 Claims. (Cl. 15-181) This invention relates as indicated to circular brush elements of particular conformation adaptable for vary ing the circumferential sequence of brushing action to accomplish a variety of effects, and more particularly to power driven rotary brushes assembled from such brush elements which may have a closed or an open face. When such brush assembly has a relatively open face, it is effective to produce powerful brushing, and optionally sweeping, action without the production of irregular streaks upon the work or accumulation of debris within the brush. When such a brush is made with a closed face, the circumferentially sequential filamentous grow ings are so displaced axially as to eliminate any tendency for a characteristic surface pattern to be produced upon the work.

Cylindrical or roller brushes are well known in the art and are employed for a wide variety of purposes. in certain cases such as when employed in floor refinishing machines, it is desired that such brushes not only be effective rapidly to remove material from the surfaces engaged thereby but also be effective then to sweep such removed or dislodged material away. This desired action tends to prevent clogging of the brush and continuously exposes the work surface for further brushing action thereon. In one well-known brush of this general type, annular brush sections having radially extending twisted tufts of Wire brush bristle material are mounted at an angle -to the axis of rotation of the hub both to afford such sweeping action and also to avoid streaking the Work due to the variation in brush bristle density or even to gaps in the brush face longitudinally of the brush. In this respect, the action of the brush is somewhat like that which might otherwise be obtained by rapid axial reciprocation of the brush as it turns.

It is, however, ordinarily preferable that the brush bristles extend radially of the axis of rotation of the brush and not at an angle thereto for most efiicient engagement with the work. When the brush material becomes worn, it is also advantageous to provide a mode of assembly whereby new brush sections may be replaced upon the rotatable hub.

It is accordingly an important object of my invention to provide a power driven rotary brush comprising a plurality of annular brush elements, portions of which do not lie in a plane normal to the axis of rotation of the brush.

Another object is to provide such brush in which such brush elements are arranged and disposed to prevent streaking of the work despite gaps therebetween.

Still another object is to provide a rotary brush in which the brush material extends substantially radially of the axis of rotation despite the fact that portions of such elements are angularly disposed thereto.

A further object is to provide such brush in which the brush elements automatically interlock to hold the same against relative rotation in use.

Yet another object is to provide a brush of the type indicated in which the inner portions of such annular brush elements are resiliently secured and mounted for improved brush life,

Other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related "ice ends, said invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

FIG. 1 is an end view of an annular rotary brush section of a type which may be utilized in the brush assembly of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 on FIG. 1 showing the manner in which such brush section may be bent or deformed with the inner peripheral surface of the brush back nevertheless conforming to a cylinder and the brush material extending radially of the axis thereof;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section similar to FIG. 2 but bent in opposite directions on two diameters disposed at to each other;

FIG. 4- shows an annular spacer channel deformed similarly to the FIG. 3 brush section and adapted to be interposed between successive brush sections upon a cylindrical hub;

FIG. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5 on FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a brush element spacing and supporting ring likewise deformed similarly to the FIG. 3 brush section;

FIG. 7 is a transverse section taken on the line 7-7 on PEG. 6;

FIG. 8 shows a portion of a brush assembly in accordance with my invention mounted on a cylindrical hub;

FIG. 9 illustrates optional brush assemblies in accordance with this invention, the brush elements and spacer means being shown in section and the ends of the hub elements being shaped to conform to the bends in the annular brush elements so that successive hub elements may be directly opposed end to end in interlocking engagement without undesired gaps in the resultant brush face;

FIG. 10 is an end view of another form of annular brush section adapted to be employed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 11 is a transverse section taken on the line 1111 on FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 shows a diametrical transverse section through an elastomeric spacer ring adapted to engage and resiliently support the brush elements of FIGS. 10 and 11, such elements and rings being deformed in a manner similar to that of FIG. 3;

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal section through a hub assembly generally similar to that of FIG. 8 but utilizing the brush elements and elastomeric rings of FIGS. 10-12 inclusive;

FIG. 14 is an end view of the FIG. 13 brush assembly showing the manner in which the various elements may be keyed together;

FIG. 15 is a longitudinal section through a brush assembly similar to that of FIG. 13 illustrating an optional method of spacing resiliently supported annular brush elements; and

FIG. 16 is a transverse section through an annular brush element deformed similarly to that of FIG. 3 but including elastomeric material within the annular channel back.

Referring now more particularly to said drawing and especially to FIGS. 1-8 thereof, the embodiment of my invention there illustrated utilizes a plurality of annular rotary brush sections which may have annular sheet 3 metal channelform backs 1 opening radially outwardly and having a plurality of twisted tufts 2 of brush bristle material such as crimped wire retained therein by means of a flat sheet metal retaining ring 3 within the channel back and about which such twisted tufts are doubled.

' Such flat ring 3 may desirably be of collapsed U-shape cross-section as shown. The sides of the channel back may be formed with a plurality of radially extending indentations 4 to reinforce such back.

As shown in FIG. 2, the channel back 1 may be bent or deformed axially of the annular brush section so that such back is offset axially in'opposite directions in diametrically opposite regions. When thus deformed, however, the inner peripheral surface of the brush back is maintained cylindrical so that it will properly conform to the outer cylindrical surface of an appropriate rotatable hub or support and the sides of the channel back are maintained radially so that the tufts of brush material 2 will extend radially outwardly and not be slanted relative to the axis. A preferred form of deformed brush section is shown in FIG. 3 of the drawing, this being similar to that of FIG. 2 except that it is bent in opposite directions on two diameters disposed at 90 to each other, thereby producing four uniformly axially offset regions.

Channelform spacer rings such as '5 may be similarly deformed as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 to be interposed between successive brush sections of the FIG. 3 type. Flat annular rings 6 of metal or of elastomeric material may likewise be deformed as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 for a similar purpose. Thus, as illustrated in'FlG. 8 of the drawing, successive deformed annular brush sections with tufts of brush bristle material 2 extending radially outwardly may be mounted upon a cylindrical hub 7 and spaced apart by means of similarly deformed annular channel members 5. A relatively heavy end ring 8 gen erally similar to ring 6 maybe mounted upon and secured to cylindrical hub 7 at the end of the assembly to hold such assembly axially compacted. It will be seen that all of the elements of such assembly are firmly interlocked due to the similar deformation of the same, thereby to prevent any relative rotation of the diiferent elements in use. The brush bristle material extends radially outwardly in a manner for the most efiicient performance of a brushing operation in contrast to certain prior art brushes where such brush bristle material extends slant- Wise of the axis. Moreover, the degree of axial offset of the annular brush sections will ordinarily preferably be suiiicient to ensure a slight overlap of successive brush sections despite the spaces or gaps therebetween.

Referring now also to FIG. 9 of the drawing, several alternative arrangements of the deformed annular brush sections and spacer elements are somewhat diagrammatically illustrated. Thus, a plurality of the PEG. 3 brush sections may be mounted upon the left-hand cylindrical hub member 9 in direct side-by-side engagement, providing a cylindrical or roller brush having a dense solid continuous brush face. A plurality of the FIG. 3 brush elements are indicated as mounted on the central cylindrical hub member 10 with the channel shaped spacer elements 5 interposed between successive brush sections to afford an open faced brush, and a plurality of annular brush elements are indicated as mounted on the right-hand cylindrical hub 11 spaced apart by channel rings 5 as in the case of the central hub member but with such annular brush sections merely comprising twisted tufts of brush bristle material 2 mounted upon an annular ring 12, the channel back 1 being dispensed with. It will be noted that the ends of the cylindrical hub members such as end '13 of hub member 9 are cut to conform to the bends or axial offsets in the brush sections or other annular elements mounted on such hubs. Consequently, a plurality of such hub members may be mounted on an appropriate inner support or mandrel in direct end-to-end engagement with such hub members interlocked against relative rotation and without necessitating any undesired spacing between the brush elements of one hub assembly and the brush elements of the next axially adjacent hub assembly. A brush may thus conveniently be assembled of any desired length, and individual axial segments of such brush may be removed and replaced as desired.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and ll, an optional form of annular brush element may comprise a plurality of tufts of brush bristle material 2 mounted upon the flolded sheet metal ring 3 without employment of the outer channel back 1. It is thus generally similar to the type of annular brush section shown mounted on the right-hand hub member 11 of FIG. 9 which, however, utilizes a solid retaining ring 12. A pluralityof. such annular brush sections may be mounted between alternating rings 14 of elastomeric resiliently deformable material such as rubber or neoprene, such rings being shaped to conform to the brush sections deformed in the manner of FIG. 3 and provided with grooves 15 and 16 in their respective side faces to receive and grip the inner end portions of the twisted tufts 2 where the latter are doubled about the annular retaining ring 3 (see FlG. 13). Such elastomeric rings 14 may also be formed with diametrically opposed inwardly projecting key portions 17 and 18 adapted to fit in longitudinally extending keyways 19 and 2.0 respectively in cylindrical hub 21. Such hub may itself be provided with inwardly projecting longitudinally extending keys 22 and 23 for engagement with an appropriate shaft or mandrel. It will thus be seen that the brush elements and indeed the tufts of brush material themselves are resiliently gripped and supported by the elastomeric rings 14 in a manner effective to dampen vibration and yieldingly resist imposition of strains thereon, greatly increasing the life of the brush. Since the assembly of annular components mounted on the hub is axially compacted, the elastomeric rings are somewhat resiliently deformed where they engage the doubled inner ends of the twisted tufts and accordingly Secure the annular brush elements against relative rotation. As indicated above, the elastomeric rings will desirably be keyed to the cylindrical hub upon which they are mounted to enable them better to resist the torsional strains imposed thereon in use. Rings 14, of course, serve to space the brush elements in a manner comparable to that of the channel rings 5. The grooves 15 and 16 may be located to space the inner periphery of the brush element somewhat from the hub 21 or alternatively to permit seating of such element directly against the hub.

When further spacing of the annular brush elements is desired, this may be obtained as illustrated in FIG. 15 by mounting the brush elements between pairs of elastomeric rings such as 24 and 25, each of which might be considered one half of ring 14 (in this case without the key portions). Such resiliently deformable elastomeric rings 24 and 25 are provided with a groove in one side face to engage the opposed doubled inner end portions of the brush material tufts 2 and the channel spacer rings 5 may be interposed between successive sets of such elastomeric rings and brush elements as illustrated, the whole being mounted upon cylindrical hub 26.

'If desired, the annular brush element mounted between elastomeric rings 24 and 25 may be fitted within an annular sheet metal channel back 27 comparable to spacer ring 5 and the resultant annular brush assembly may be utilized in the same manner as the several types of such assemblies described above.

It will, of course, be appreciated that various types of annular brush sections known to the prior art may be deformed in accordance with this invention and utilized as described above. Thus, the rotary brush sections disclosed in the applications of Ruben 0. Peterson, Serial No. 536,810, filed September 27, 1955, for Twisted T uft Rotary Brush, and Serial No. 559,179, filed January 16, 1956, for Rotary Brush, now Patent No. 2, 6,

may be so utilized. A Wide variety of different types of brush materials may also be employed, including natural bristles such as horsehair and tampico fiber, various types of metal wire, and wire or glass fiber filaments forming bristles individually coated with a plastic such as nylon, for example. Epoxy resin composition adhesives may be utilized to bond the brush elements to the interposed elastomeric rings and to the hub and other elements if desired. I

With further reference to FIG. 16 of the drawing, it will be understood that the retaining ring 3 and the inner ends of the tufts of brush material may similarly be set in uncured elastomeric material within the channel back 27 and such elastomeric composition then heated to cure the same. If desired, such elastomeric material may be a neoprene composition including a blowing compound so that sponge neoprene will be produced upon heating and curing. An epoxy resin adhesive composition may be utilized to coat the metal parts to assist in bonding them to the neoprene. Furthermore, if desired, the elastomeric material may be intruded between the bristles extending to the outer ends of the latter in the general manner described in the application of Vernon K. Charvat, Serial No. 686,500, filed September 26, 1957, for Manufacture of Composite Brushing Tool. of course, the various types of brush bristle material contemplated need not be in the form of twisted tufts but may be the common U-shaped bristles secured beneath retaining ring 3. Textile bufi material and the like may also be utilized.

Brushes formed in accordance with this invention are particularly useful as scarifiers for cleaning floors such as those in industrial areas where it is necessary to remove grease, metal chips and the like. Where it is desire to clean floors having loose dirt thereon, the brush fill may comprise relatively loose twisted tufts of long trim crimped wire, vegetable fiber or synthetic fiber. Where the brush is to be employed in finishing meta parts to produce a uniform finish with a minimum of irregularities and streaks, whether on flat surfaces, edges or even somewhat curved surfaces, the brush fill may comprise mixtures of metallic and non-metallic filaments and also textile buff material.

Brush assemblies such as those illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 may be formed with overlap of the brush material of successive sections so that they are substantially nonstreaking in their brushing characteristics and also afford a much improved brushing action in contrast to brushes wherein the brush material extends at a substantial angle to the axis of rotation. it is much preferred that the brush bristles extend normal to such axis for proper engagement with the workpiece surface. The brush elements are relatively easy to assemble upon the hub or mandrel and a strong assembly is produced since the individual sections are firmly seated on such hub or mandrel, the inner peripheral surfaces of such sections extending parallel to the surface of the hub.

While the conformation of each brush section will ordinarily be selected so as to provide a rotary brush which will contact an axial area which is greater than the sum of the Widths of the cross-sectional areas or widths of the component sections, the extent of the area covered will, of course, depend on the degree of transverse bending given the individual brush parts. In most cases, the extent of the bend will be determined by the amount it is desired to space the sections apart on a hub or mandrel and still maintain complete axial coverage by the brush as it rotates. In those cases where a more dense brush face is required, the same formed annular brush sections may be employed but Without the interposed spacers. Since the brush sections interlock, it is ordinarily unnecessary to employ keys therefor or heavy axial compression of the assembly on the hub. Inasmuch as the fill material extends radially outwardly of the axis of rotation, it is unnecessary to trim the layers of material on a bevel and even when the brush has worn back considerably in use, it will still afford proper axial coverage. This is obviously not the case when the layers of brush material lie in planes substantially inclined to the axis of rotation. My new brush accordingly has a relatively long useful life.

When the brush is to be employed for sheet scrubbing, the brush elements may be filled with brush bristle material having wire or glass fiber cores coated with nylon, for example, and water or a cleaning solution may be circulated through the brush to clean the brush and disipate heat. For surface finishing, abrasive compounds may be fed to the brush face internally of the hub or air may be circulated therethrough for ventilating purposes.

When two or more brush sections are assembled closely side by side as indicated in FIG. 9, for example, de-

7 formed in accordance with this invention to interlock the same, the desired non-streaking effect is obtained even when the brush is rotated at high speeds tending to separate the brush material into circumferential rings of relatively high and low density at the brush face. This is particularly true of brush material other than twisted tufts, the rings of low density being in the planes of the retaining members such as 3 and the adjacent sides of the channel backs. Consequently, due to the deformation of the brush section backs taught herein, such rings will not lie in a transverse plane but will be deformed as the backs are deformed and will not result in light brushing and heavy brushing along a given line on the surface of a work-piece.

When previously brush sections have been utilized inclined to the axis of rotation, with consequent slanting of the brush material, such material has tended to bend into a radial position under the influence of centrifugal force, thereby losing some of the axial offset it was intended to accomplish. The shape of an initially cylindrical brush will also be altered by such action in use. Even such inferior prior art brushes are, however, rnuch improved in other respects when the slanting brush sections are spaced apart by my spacer rings of elastomeric material engaging and laterally supporting the inner end portions of the brush material.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A rotary brush having a central rotatable hub and a plurality of individual unitary single turn annular rotary brush sections mounted thereon in axial alignment, each said brush section having a single turn annular brush material retaining portion and brush material extending generally radially outwardly therefrom, said retaining portions being deformed axially of said brush so that portions of said brush material of each of said sections lie in different planes circumferentially of said brush but with brush material supporting portions still extending truly radially so that all said brush material nevertheless extends substantially directly radially outwardly of such axis without appreciable axial inclination relative to said hub.

2. The brush of claim 1, wherein said annular retaining portions are thus oppositely axially deformed in diametrically opposite regions.

3. The brush of claim 1, wherein said brush material retaining portion of each said section includes a unitary single turn annular sheet metal channel form back having an inner cylindrical peripheral portion sleeved on and fitting an outer cylindrical surface of said hub.

4. The brush of claim 1, wherein said brush material retaining portion of each said section includes a unitary single turn annular sheet metal channelform back having an inner cylindrical peripheral portion sleeved on and fitting an outer cylindrical surface of said hub, and each said back is deformed to interfit a next adjacent back to prevent relative rotation therebetween.

5. The brush of claim .1, wherein similarly deformed annular spacer elements are interposed between adjacent brush sections and interlock therewith, the brush material of each said spaced annular section overlapping that of an adjacent section circumferentially of said brush to prevent streaking of the work in use.

6. The brush of claim 1, wherein similarly deformed annular spacer elements are interposed between adjacent brush sections and interlock therewith, said spacer elements comprising sheet'metal channels opening radially outwardly, the brush material of each said spaced annular section overlapping that of an adjacent section circumferentially of said brush to prevent streaking of the work in use.

7. The brush of claim "1, wherein similarly deformed 4 ized in that said annular brush elements are deformed to offset portions thereof axially and said abutting ends of said cylindrical hub members are shaped to conform to such deformation whereby they may be thus abutted without causing undesired spacing of adjacent brush elements on adjacent hub members and said hub members are interlocked against relative rotation.

9. The brush of claim 8, wherein annular spacer rings :are interposed between certain of said annular brush elements, said rings being similarly deformed.

10. The brush of claim 8, wherein annular spacer rings are interposed between certain of said annular brush elements, said rings being similarly deformed and comprising radially outwardly opening sheet metal channels.

11. The brush of claim 8, wherein annular spacer rings are interposed between certain of said annular brush elements, said rings being similarly shaped and comprising resiliently deformable elastomeric material.

12. A rotary brush comprising a central rotatable hub member, a pair of individual self-supporting rings of resiliently deformable elastomeric material mounted thereon, and an annular brush element interposed between said rings and supported and positioned thereby, said rings being keyed to said hub member and the brush material of said element extending substantially directly radially outwardly.

13. The brush of claim 12, wherein said rings have circumferential grooves in their side faces to engage and hold said annular brush element.

14. The brush of claim 12, wherein said rings and brush element are similarly axially deformed.

15. A rotary brush comprising a central rotatable hub member, a plurality of individual rings of resiliently deformable elastomeric material mounted thereon, and a plurality of unitary single turn annular brushelements interposed between said rings and positioned and spaced apart thereby, wherein said rings have circumferential grooves in their side faces to engage and hold said annular brush elements.

16. The brush of claim 15, wherein end rings are mounted on and secured to said hub operative axially to compact the assembly of elastomeric rings and annular brush elements interposed 'therebetween through deformation of said elastomer-ic rings.

17. An annular rotary brush element comprising a brush material retaining ring having brush material retained thereby and extending generally-radially outwardly therefrom; and individual rings of elastomeric material mounted co-axially with said brush element having circumferential recesses in their side faces opposed to the respective sides of the radially inner pout-ion of said element engaging and holding the latter.

18. The assembly of claim 17, including a central support on which said elastomeric rings are mounted with the latter spacing the inner periphery of said element radially outwardly from said support.

19. A rotary brushing tool comprising a cylindrical hub, a plurality of axially aligned individual annular rotary brush sections mounted on said hub each having a layer of brush material extending generally radially outwardly therefrom, said brush sections being shaped to provide axially waved brush faces circumferentially thereof, annular support rings mounting said brush sections on said hub and shaped to conform to said brush sections to preclude relative circumferential movement of said brush sections and support rings, and key means interconnecting said annular support rings and said hub to preclude relative circumferential movement of said support rings and hub.

References Cite-:1 in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,339,894 Johnson May 11, 1920 2,288,337 Whittle June 30, 1942 2,324,272 Anderson July 13, 1943 2,349,644 Wesemeyer May 23, 1944 2,634,167 Bible Apr. 7, 1953 2,682,679 Ballard July 6, 1954 2,7 82,439 Ballard Feb. 26, 1957 2,783,095 Ballard Feb. 26, 1957 2,824,327 Van Clief Feb. 25, 1958 2,826,776 Peterson Mar. 18, 1958 2,864,112 Nielsen Dec. 16, 1958 

12. A ROTARY BRUSH COMPRISING A CENTRAL ROTATABLE HUB MEMBER, A PAIR OF INDIVIDUAL SELF-SUPPORTING RINGS OF RESILIENTLY DEFORMABLE ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL MOUNTED THEREON, AND AN ANNULAR BRUSH ELEMENT INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID RINGS AND SUPPORTED AND POSITIONED THEREBY, SAID RINGS BEING KEYED TO SAID HUB MEMBER AND THE BRUSH MATERIAL OF SAID ELEMENT EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY DIRECTLY RADIALLY OUTWARDLY. 